HIV AIDS - AN ISSUE IN NURSE EDUCATION

The White Paper, The Health of the Nation (Department of Health 1991), identifies education in HIV/AIDS as an area of priority concern. Statistics have shown that education aimed specifically at gay men has been reduced and that, at the same time, the incidence of infection within this group has risen, There would appear to be a relationship between education targeted at a group and the behaviour of that group. For nurses there are similar implications, A study published in 1992 found that there was widespread ignorance among nurses and that education and training targeted at the specific needs of nurses was the answer. There have been a number of other research studies which have focused on other aspects of HIV/AIDS education. The issues involved include: highlighting infection control, the education of Health Care Assistants, prejudice and attitude, the credibility of teachers, This study shows how a course on HIV/AIDS can be tailored to meet the identifiable learning needs of nurses as an ongoing process of monitoring and evaluation, The process endeavours to address the issues in a way that has maximum effect on the learning process and takes account of a range of studies in order to meet the requirements of the Health of the Nation White Paper.